Long-term US mortgage rates hit highest levels since 2014

WASHINGTON – Long-term US mortgage rates climbed again this week, hitting the highest levels since 2014.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans jumped to an average 4.30 percent from 4.16 percent last week and the highest since April 2014. The average for a 15-year mortgage rose to 3.52 percent from 3.37 percent last week and highest since January 2014.

Rates on adjustable five-year mortgages shot up this week to 3.41 percent, highest since mid-2011.

Rates have surged since the Nov. 8 election of Donald Trump. Investors have bid rates higher because they believe the president-elect's plans for tax cuts and higher infrastructure spending will drive up economic growth and inflation.

And last week, the Federal Reserve, citing improvement in the U.S. economy, raised short-term U.S. interest rates for only the second time in a decade. "The mortgage industry digested the Fed's decision, and this week's survey reflects that response," said Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac's chief economist.

More people are at risk of being priced out of the housing market because rates are rising at a time when there is a shortage of properties for sale, driving bids higher. The National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday that fewer than 1.9 million homes were for sale in November, down 9 percent from a year ago. The median price of an existing home is up nearly 7 percent from a year ago, at $234,900.

The Realtors predict that higher rates and declining affordability in many parts of the country likely will lead to only a small gain in sales of existing homes next year — a 2 percent increase to about 5.52 million.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week.

The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was unchanged this week at 0.5 point. The fee on 15-year loans also remained at 0.5 point.